It's Easy to Misconstrue the Trucker Protest in Canada by U.S. Spectators
Jingle Jones
At first glance, their appearance might be American. Some banners flaunted slogans like "Make Canada Great Again" or "F–k Trudeau," while others waved Confederate flags. They chanted "Freedom," mirroring the chaos in the U.S. on September 11, 2001, as Vice President Dick Cheney was evacuated, echoing the same unease.
This phenomenon sparked joy among some Americans, with the hope that the Canadian uprising would ignite unrest. Notable figures like Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump showed interest. Even American truckers reportedly took inspiration, planning their own rally in Washington, D.C.
Inspired by the trucker protests in Canada, U.S. conservatives found a glimmer of hope - a perceived Canadian shift towards authoritarianism under the rule of Justin Trudeau. "Just another tyrant," some might say, while people in trucks are seen as their saviors.
Personalities like Tucker Carlson, Trump, and Musk find grandeur in this Canadian movement, but they're mistaken. Although sharing simplistic parallels, iconic symbols, and belligerent slogans, this Canadian protest is no groundswell or prairie wildfire. More likely, a winter festival, a brief, fierce outburst … and perhaps even more noteworthy, a distinctive Canadian winter festival.
Avoid drawing parallels with January 6, 2021. The masses involved – estimated by authorities to range between 5,000 to 18,000 people, significantly fewer than the organizers claimed 50,000 truckloads – are not predominantly white, male, or Christian. Canada's diversity reflects this complexity, accepting over 1% of new immigrants last year.
A reporter wandering through the Parliament Hill crowd described a "festive" atmosphere – not merely a boisterous blend of irritable, determined Canadian protesters, spewing a laundry list of grievances. Amongst the leaders, an astute observer noted, were a Jewish person and an indigenous Canadian.
Their common cause was opposition to lockdowns, mask mandates, and public health directives. Some separatist factions within trucking had emerged, opposing vaccines, vaccine misinformation, and harmful traffic rhetoric. It's estimated that nearly 90% of Canadian truckers are vaccinated, and their organization has disassociated itself from the protestors.
This discovery revealed that truckers in a nation with one of the highest vaccination rates were willing to comply with their government's restrictive measures – mandated mask-wearing, school closures, business closures, fitness studio closures, and office closures, particularly for the unvaccinated. In Quebec – the province with the most aggressive pandemic response – there were discussions to tax the unvaccinated (though this was eventually scrapped this week).
Canadians, more than their American counterparts, are largely compliant in nature. Not out of presumed superiority, as a Canadian humorously put it, but due to their preference for caution, compromise, and compromise, even when dealing with mistakes. A modern, largely peaceful nation with fewer social unrests, resistant to a startling death toll, as happened in the U.S.
The acceptance of COVID-19 regulations in Canada highlights a national consensus that values freedom over life. As a society, Canada appears to have less appetite to tolerate a high death toll than the United States (which had around three times the death rate compared to Canada, accounting for population differences).
Trump's words resonate true – there must have been unsavory actors in Ottawa's protests. Some were spotted wearing swastikas, some danced on war monuments, and many openly urinated. As Josh Greenberg smartly noted, the absence of violence doesn't imply peacefulness. It only means the ominous presence of protesters is intimidating and unsettling.
However, there were no weapons, no snouts, and no body armor. No instances of violence or attacks were reported. Instead, there was vulgarity, raucous shouting, and an abundance of insults and threats from extreme groups in attendance at the demonstrations.
If there was no violence, it may have been due to fringe thinkers retreating (antiprotest rallies organized by vaccine supporters were cancelled). In fact, politicians politely asked protesters to leave, addressing them as "gentlemen" and "dear people."
Surprisingly, there are no tricks, no threats, no ultimatums or boundaries. Government officials make requests but don't enforce them. Residents express concerns but don't assemble. And the demonstrators march and shake their heads, but they don't leave (at least not the majority).
Now, streets are blocked, and inner-city stores have closed. Parliamentary areas are paralyzed, alongside the political class. Canadians, once told to blindly follow authority, now find themselves accustomed to its absence. The city prohibits long-haul trucks from blocking streets, citing their frustration at being inconvenienced. However, there are no lockdowns or orders imposed. The police are planning "de-escalation" to avoid loss of life or property damage.
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Why don't protesters abandon their Ottawa occupation for months, as they've threatened? They might only sway a few. In a country where order is valued more than freedom, their influence is restricted. Had freedom truly been a priority, Canada would have voted the right-wing party into power last year due to their "freedom" rhetoric – instead, they retained Trudeau and the Liberals, who condemned the mob.
Even the most unsavory protesters belong to us, particularly Canadians. As long as they are not detained or harassed by authorities, tolerated by the public, and ignored by the legislature, they can remain untroubled, shivering on the sidewalks, sleeping in the cold, and frolicking in the wind.
(Photo by Mark Felix/AFP) (Photo by Mark Felix/AFP/Getty Images for AFP)
Enrichment
- The demographics and perceptions of the trucker protests in Canada differ significantly from those in the U.S., leading to misconceptions about the scope and impact of the protests.
- The Canadian protests received substantially more funding from U.S. sources compared to U.S. protests, raising concerns about external manipulation of public opinion.
- The Canadian protests were met with widespread public opposition, including increased nationalism and criticisms from most Canadian leaders outside of Alberta.
- In contrast, U.S. protests often receive more organic support and can vary widely in terms of public opinion and political engagement, based on the specific issue and political leanings.
- The Canadian government's response to the protests was firm, imposing fines and other penalties, reflecting broad societal disapproval of the tactics and goals of the convoy.
The data highlight the contrast in the demographics, perceptions, and government responses to the trucker protests in Canada and the U.S. This information is important to consider when analyzing the misconceptions and assumptions about the protests among U.S. spectators, allowing for a more informed understanding of the issue.
